Convert Spline to lines and Arcs

If you have a spline and want to convert it to arcs and lines, us this option:

Insert -> Curve from Curves -> Simplify

UPDATE
Starting with a Spline

I used the studio spline available under “Insert -> Curve -> Studio Spline”. Picked four points and ok on the dialog.

Now we have one spline. To break it up into arcs and lines, use the “Insert -> Curve from Curves -> Simplify” option. Pick the option you want to have happen. In this case I’m selecting delete the original curve and only leave me the new simplified spline. Select the spline and ok. What you are left with is a line that is made up of lines and arcs depending on what is the simplest geometry to get the same curve.

Dynamic Dimensioning in Modeling

NX has just reciently added new features to allow for dynamic measuring in modeling. There is a quick check way to throw a message when the restraints are violated. But we would like to have a visual dynamic measurement while we are modifying the data. There is sketch, but i’m more interested in interference checks, alignments, max range.

A secret to creating measurements in the modeling application is to start Drafting, then turn the drafting display off (View -> display sheet). The menu entry is a push button so uncheck it or more accurately push it off. Now you are in the modeling side with all the drafting tools. Add a centerline, dimension, angular dimenstions, etc.

This technique is not to be used to dimension the part, it is for engineering. Checking an angle, distance, etc. Now move the solids or components around and watch the dimensions dance.

Pretty nice trick that has been around for a long time. I used this trick in V11. Very few people reference this “hack” but it is great. So share it or don’t and act like a superstar when infront of a design review board.

Why NX CAD?

Some people may ask, why use UGS’s NX CAD system compared to PTC, Dassault, Autodesk CAD offerings. First lets get the actual CAD application names related to the companies that offer them.

• UGS -> NX
• UGS -> NX – Ideas
• UGS -> Solid Edge (mid market)
• Dassault -> Catia V5
• Dassault -> Solid Works (mid market)
• Autodesk -> AutoCad (primarily 2D)
• Autodesk -> Inventor (mid market 3D)
• PTC -> Pro/E

I’m not going to discuss the mid-market solutions from these companies. They are great products but what i’m interested in is why whould someone choose NX over other CAD systems. NX is a high end product so we will only compare similiar products. I have used each one of these products listed, except for Inventor from Autodesk. I have seen it though and it looks very similiar to Solid Edge. I’m going to keep that in the mid-market section and not compare it to the other products. The line between mid and high is getting more blurred though.

Catia v5, the intereface looks dated, and feels like a unix application that is running on windows. Not very intuitive for me.

Solid Works looks to have more potential as a high end product but with a mid market price, we’ll have to keep this in mind.

Pro/E, has this truly odd in session concept, along with versioning of files on the Operating system, and a trace file.

Then there is the whole debate of the file type extensions (drawing, part, sketch, etc). I’m not a fan of this different extension to classify the type of part. I like the freeform process instead. If i’m building a concept part tha is machined out block then in production want to make it out of sheet metal. What would i do? resave the type of file but with the same part number? Something i don’t even want to worry about. This is the part number that is going to be used in production and this is what it looks like. Otherwise if i mentioned part number 12345 is being used, i also need to clarify the sheet metal version. sounds like a chance for error. Inventor, also looks to be a mid market application, not sure the limitations but the interface looks modern, I believe there is one part file extension.

Then there is Ideas, this is a product getting merged into NX so i’m not going to dwell on it for long. This interface is also dated looking, and not intuitive in nature.

NX i believe to have the best of the best, there is still room for improvement and looks like they are extensively doing that. The dialogs are reasonable consistent, behavior consistency is getting a lot better. Using the latest technologies in respect to NX/Open able to use Java, .Net, C++ for the customization API. Able to build dialogs with UI/Styler easily or use winforms or JAVA swing dialogs in NX. The object -> action, action -> object metaphore is working well (pick a function then the object, or pick the object and do a function). context menus are available in more and more places. dynamic shadows in shade mode is cool, you can create a line, feature, primitive, sketch, sheet metal, surface, drawing all in on e file (if you want). break it apart into assemblies easily. There is one file extension for the part and it can be a model, drawing, sheet metal, primitives, sketches, wave geometry, etc.. The integration to Teamcenter is phenomenal.

For those that love Pro/E, Catia v5, Ideas. Take a look at NX with an open mind and compare the benefits. See for yourself. Maybe your process adheres better to Pro/E or Catia. Or maybe there is a specific function that it has that others don’t have. Competition is a good thing, we need strong competitors to make a stronger product. Whichever product we choose.

Create Annotation with Leader

In NX Drafting, you want to create a note (annotation) with a leader. There are two ways. First is more usefull if the annotation already exists. Edit -> Leader, select annotation to add the leader to, then select where the arrow should be placed. This can also be used to point one annotation to many areas.

The second way is to create an annotation with a leader in one step. Insert -> annotation, then select and hold the mouse button down where you want the arrow to be then drag off (you can release the mouse button now) then click again where you want the note to land.

Pretty cool trick.

Writing Scripts for NX

If you need information from NX when you are writing scripts to help automate things, NX provides a utility program. The program is ENV_PRINT. Start a command shell with the correct NX environment (Start -> Programs -> UGS NX 4 -> NX Tools -> Command Shell). Type in
ENV_PRINT -v.

other options are ENV_PRINT -all, which will show all NX variables, and ENV_PRINT . This will return the assigned value to the variable.

Pretty nice utility